The Fast and the Furious (1955)

A man wrongly imprisoned for murder breaks out of jail. He wants to clear his name, but with the police pursuing him, he's forced to take a beautiful young woman, driving a fast sports car,... See full summary »

Directors:

John Ireland, Edward Sampson

Writers:

Jerome Odlum (screenplay), Jean Howell (screenplay),

Stars:

John Ireland, Dorothy Malone, Bruce Carlisle

Cast

Complete credited cast:
John Ireland	...	Frank Webster
Dorothy Malone	...	Connie Adair
Bruce Carlisle	...	Faber
Iris Adrian	...	Wilma Belding, Waitress
Marshall Bradford	...	Mr. Hillman, Race Marshal
Bruno VeSota	...	Bob Nielson, Truck Driver (as Bruno Ve Sota)
Byrd Holland	...	Doctor
Larry Thor	...	Detective Sergeant
Henry Rowland	...	Motorist in Park
Jean Howell	...	Sally Phillips
Dick Pinner	...	State Trooper (as Richard Pinner)
Robin Morse	...	Gas Station Attendant
Lou Place	...	Det. Faraday
'Snub' Pollard	...	Park Caretaker (as Snub Pollard)

Storyline

A man wrongly imprisoned for murder breaks out of jail. He wants to clear his name, but with the police pursuing him, he's forced to take a beautiful young woman, driving a fast sports car, hostage and slip into a cross-border sports car race to try to make it to Mexico before the police get him.

---

Plot Keywords:

hostage | car fire | police checkpoint | speed | carsploitation | 

---

Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

---

Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 February 1955 (USA)

Also Known As:

Der rasende Teufel

Filming Locations:

Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$66,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Palo Alto Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

73 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

After Frank and Connie watch the antiques race they then attend the Concours d'Elegance, in which the grand prize winner was a Rolls Royce convertible owned by a "Jack Milner" from Beverly Hills. This is a reference to the associate producer, Jack Milner.

---

Goofs

In the early part of the race, the announcer in the grandstand gives detailed accounts of the racing action long after the cars would have been out of his view.

---

Connections

Referenced in House of Payne: The Fast and the Furious (2007)

User Reviews

AIP's first film: let loose the hounds of war!

Surprisingly solid production with an obviously very low budget (this was producer Corman's first film, I believe, and he is true to form). About a man on the run who kidnaps a lovely lady in a sports car. Of course, she falls in love with him when he gives her a picnic. Strictly stock footage and poor rear-projection for the race scenes. Some nice touches in the dialogue. It's actually surprising that this film emerges as watchable, but it even ends up being likeable. Well, it took me years to find it, but I can't say I ever expected it to be any good, so I guess I wasn't disappointed. First film for American International Pictures (then known as American Releasing Corporation or ARC, under the auspices of the infamous Alex Gordon, Jim Nicholson, and Sam Arkoff), whose only producers at that time were Gordon, Corman, and (eventually) Herman Cohen, if I got all the names right. Anyway, as most drive in fans know, these guys changed the world of movies, and I guess this little film is where it all started. Well, fast cars and girls in danger is a good film formula, so I guess they didn't pick a bad place to start off.